July 6 - nice relaxing Sunday

July 6 - Sunday 10:30 am (written, but not posted until evening) - Hi everyone - it's cloudy/ drizzly so far today, still warm but not as hot without the sun blazing in through the windows and balcony. We're getting a fan for the apartment next week when our friend Gretchen finishes her bonding time and goes back to Ottawa. Sorry to see ya leave Gretchen, but we'll enjoy the fan!

We had a sloth-like day yesterday after our BH visit - we just vegged out, read, made dinner (chicken breasts and pasta) and watched TV. For everyone who told us we'll like the Sopranos - you're right it's great! Today we're not allowed to visit (Sundays are still counted as one of our 15 required bonding days, but we don't actually get to go), but we have a bit of shopping to do, and also want to clean the apartment. It's amazing how normal it makes me feel to scrub the bathroom and sweep the floors! (Mom, stop laughing......) The family who lives here left a steamer- vaccuum, so we'll give that a whirl on their beautiful carpets. We figured out the laundry machine, so hopefully the vaccuum will be the same.

Looks like we'll be coming home early, around the 15th/ 16th depending on what flights we can get - so that's 10 days down and 10 to go! It's a holiday here tomorrow (Monday) so if the Lufthansa Airline office isn't open we'll try to make the date change over the phone, or else we'll get it arranged on Tuesday. Then once we're home we wait for our court date - apparently we'll know within a week of being home, when we're expected to come back - could be anywhere from 3-8 weeks in between trips, and it's totally up to the judge assigned to the babyhouse. Of course we're hoping for a short time in between, so we can come back, get through court and the rest of the process, then come home as a family!!

To answer some questions people have asked (other than the obvious one): Yes there apparently are mosquitos here but we haven't seen any so far - there's no screens on the windows so we're very glad of this. We seem to have a thunderstorm every day, either at 5-6 pm or overnight - last night's was spectacular with lots of lightning. Other couples here have suffered with power outages and/or tempermental elevators at their apartments, but so far we've been lucky with both - I think we're in a nice building! We have hot water almost of the time, I think it's only been once or twice that we've tried to get it but couldn't. The people have mostly been nice - not outwardly friendly like we're used to - nobody will smile at you here - but when we've asked for things in broken Russian or using combination of charades/English they've been kind, some even answer in broken English, and we've always managed to get what we need.

Let us know any other questions you have - it's tough to try and keep this interesting when we're not talking about the one thing you all want us to talk about.......

Take care, have a great day! We are so thinking of you Jo & Meb!!!
N&P